NSW: Final McGurk report clears MPs, officials of wrongdoing

A final report on western Sydney land deals involving a murdered standover man has reiterated interim findings that no NSW Labor MP or government official acted corruptly.

The NSW upper house inquiry into planning decisions was established following the killing of Sydney businessman Michael McGurk, who was gunned down in front of his home in September 2009.

Following his death it was claimed Mr McGurk had a recording detailing corruption by Labor MPs and officials in relation to land at Badgerys Creek, which developers Roy and
Ron Medich
had unsuccessfully tried to have rezoned.

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“The committee’s first report, tabled in November 2009, made a number of recommendations to improve the transparency and integrity of the planning system," Ms Gardiner wrote in the final report, tabled in parliament on Thursday.

“In particular, the committee recommended stronger regulation of contact between planning officials, development proponents and lobbyists. The committee also recommended tighter regulation of political donations.

“I note that this second supplementary report only became necessary as a result of Mr Graham Richardson’s unwillingness to respond in writing to questions submitted after his evidence at the committee’s first hearing," her report said.

The heated December 14 hearings saw Mr Richardson grilled over the tape recording, which Mr McGurk played to him at a brief meeting at Sydney’s Bowlers Club early last year.

Mr Richardson is a lobbyist for the Mediches, from whom Mr McGurk was allegedly trying to extort $8 million.

During the recorded conversation Ron Medich had boasted of his influence over Mr Haddad.

Mr Richardson told the inquiry he had only listened to about one minute of the 90-minute recording, and described the meeting as a “waste of time".

“I listened to the part that was supposed to have explosive information and it wouldn’t have let off a bunger," he said.

In February, ICAC Commissioner David Ipp also found any allegation of corruption between NSW planning officials and developers deserved “to be described as nonsense".

He found Mr McGurk had been caught up in a lie, saying Mr Medich had been “falsely overstating his influence" over Mr Haddad in an effort to disengage himself from Mr McGurk.

“Mr Medich had no basis in fact for accusing Mr Haddad or any other person connected with the Department of Planning or government of corrupt conduct," Mr Ipp said.

“He told these lies for his own ends, never expecting that they would be made public."